New York, London, Paris, Milan? Move over funky fashion capitals of the world, Lisbon is the place to be. The city’s cutting-edge fashion and design haunts are luring visitors who are after more than a souvenir magnet of a custard tart and a vintage tram.
While Lisbon has been known for its music (fado) and arts scene (think local artist Joana Vasconcelos, who has exhibited her quirky sculptures at the likes of France’s Versailles), it’s the city’s fashion scene that’s hitting more than local catwalks. Each year, as new designers enter the market, international fashion buyers come knocking on doors, while overseas visitors leave with suitcases stuffed with local purchases.
Present up-and-coming designers include White Tent, Vitor, Ricardo Andrez and Marques Almeida. Why the upsurge in interest and creativity? Eduarda Abbondanza, Director of ModaLisboa (Lisbon Fashion Week) says, “Lisbon has the freshness and creative energy of a Mediterranean European capital, mixed with a very easy going and culturally solid ambiance. Nice weather, low prices (compared to other European capitals) and a friendly and safe environment attracts a lot of positive creativity.” To experience a contemporary take on the city you don’t have to venture further than a tight two kilometre radius. The pretty, tree-lined or cobblestoned streets of Principe Real, Chiado, Bairro Alto and Baixa (literally, ‘downtown’) are home to fashion shops, contemporary galleries and design ateliers.
Principe Real is Lisbon’s current hip strip. It oozes a contemporary-Berlin-meets-Barcelona-in-the-nineties kind of cool.
by Kate Armstrong
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